MP4-18A

[pumpdoc 2]

Alaxzander Wurz wiped out a new MP4-18 at Jerrez they say it's a write-off just bumps and bruises for Alax though and it was a high speed one like Kimis off last week but they say not to worry----when they say that it means; we are worried-----the scribes are saying look at the F2003GA they had a cpl. of bad crashes also!!!!! time will tell.........

[daz 0]

Keep this up and there won't be any left to race at Silverstone... Old RD's calculator must be doing overtime everytime he sees one of these baby's get written off.

P.S. Does anybody else feel that Mclaren are leaving it to late in the season to launch their new car? Personally I don't think its impressed as much as was expected and Mclaren are quickly trying to figure out how to get more out of the chassis. Guess we'll have to wait another month though to see if its all it was made out to be.

[GaySchumi 0]

It seems the 18A failed some mandatory crash tests, can't remember where I read it, I think PlanetF1, not a rumor, Haug confirmed the fact ...

Oh my my my ...

[nichosnz 0]

And Raikkonen just managed 20 laps on Wednesday, due to gearbox problems.

[nichosnz 0]

Then on Thursday DC had reliability issues with it, more than once by the sound of it.

[daz 0]

Read some reports today, that now say if the tests after the French GP don't go very well that we can only expect Mclaren to debut the new car at Monza. Mainly because the summer testing ban will prevent them from getting the required reliablity out of the car. Honestly - why bother to bring it out at all then? They might as well save the car and just call it their contender for next year....

[nichosnz 0]

...because if any (or all) of Ferrari, Williams or Renault beat McLaren next year, there will be a lot of egg on a lot of faces. A car that has taken 21+ months to develop should at worst 'pip any challenger at the post', so it won't look good to be beaten by a car developed in 9 months

[GaySchumi 0]

The Way Kimi was blazing around, do they even need the MP4/18 ? The 17D seems to be quite capable ... unless Ferrari was having an off day, and Williams ... an 'on' one ?

[nichosnz 0]

I think if you compare Ferrari to any other team, especially the other Bridgestone runners, it paints a picture of a bad weekend. Williams have been improving steadily lately, in the last three races they have finished 1st, 4th, 2nd, 3rd, 1st, 2nd. Never out of the points, and once one place of the podium, and better than any other team.